October 2009
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE WORTH?
On August 25, 2009 my father passed away very unexpectedly. He died the day before his 67th birthday and a few weeks before his 50th wedding anniversary. His death came as a complete shock to his family and friends. The doctor says it was a heart attack, maybe a stroke. Either way, my Mom lost a loving spouse, my brothers and I lost a great Dad, his extended family lost a kind brother, and his customers and pals lost a good friend. And you quickly see how life can change for your family from one day to the next.
Now, one thing you should know about my Dad is that he loved reading the obituary page in the newspaper. I’m not sure I get the strange fascination he had with that hobby, but nonetheless he enjoyed it. So I know he would have appreciated having a good obituary written about him for all his fellow obit readers to see. My Mom felt the same way and asked me to write it. Emotionally, it was very difficult to do, but also very surreal as I struggled to really grasp the reality that he was gone.
I called the paper and got a price so I’d know how much to write. Basically, Dad got 21 lines, 25-30 characters per line, for $130. That’s not much room to say a lot about the life and accomplishments of a good man. I could have gone on for 50, 100 or 200 lines or even given my Dad a whole column of type highlighting every conceivable aspect of his life. Maybe he would have really liked that. But $130 was the ceiling and that’s what we stuck with.
After I wrote that obituary, I couldn’t help but wonder if that was what my Dad’s life was really worth? For all his accomplishments and all that he was as a person, was $130 what it all boiled down to? Then, it got me to thinking about what kind of an impact I’ve made on my wife and kids, my friends, my business colleagues, all the people I come into contact with? Would my obituary cover a few lines or take up a whole column? What would others say and write about me? What exactly is my own life worth?
Maybe I’ll never know for sure, but this I do know. My life has enough value that someone thought enough of me that he willingly endured mockery, torture, excruciating pain, and even sacrificed his own life to save mine.
Financial planners, probate attorneys and courts may set your net worth here on earth, but that is not what your life is really worth. Someone else determined your value well before your were born. You are a child of God, loved by him so much that he sent his one and only son to pay the ultimate price for you. That says something about what God thinks about the value you and I have. We are never worthless to God.
My Dad probably got a big kick out of his obituary. He would have liked it that we cared enough about him to say something nice for all Atlanta to read. But after the initial exhiliration, maybe he too started to think his life’s worth was tied to those 21 short lines on page 4E of the paper.
But then I believe he found himself in the presence of God and somehow, like the old hymn says, all the things of Earth grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.
Now my Dad knows the real value of his worth and the amazing love of the one who paid for it.
Rest easy Poppy, and I’ll see you down the road.
May 2009
FUNNY THING ABOUT FAITH...
Okay, I admit it. I struggle with faith. I get that God is
bigger than me, that God is bigger than any problem or obstacle I face. But
sometimes having faith—real faith—is hard. And faith really shouldn’t be this
darn hard because I love God and know how awesome and great he is.
I guess it boils down to one simple thing. Do I really trust God and all his promises? It’s one thing to say I believe it, but it’s quite another to put that faith into action, especially when what I feel God is asking me to do is so counter-intuitive to what I think is best for me. I know it’s crazy talk. Am I so arrogant and brazen to think I know more about what’s best for me than God? Deep down no, but I sure act that way a lot.
To me, faith is doing something that makes no sense to me or anyone else, but it absolutely makes sense to God and totally fits into his plan and purpose for me. Faith is about putting God first and doing whatever he asks of you even when all signs point to this not being the best time or the right place. Faith is about pulling the tail of the tiger and confronting the challenges and obstacles you face head on knowing full well that God is always on your side.
Regarding my own faith, I am at the edge of a steep cliff (don’t call 911...the cliff represents anything that seems scary, daunting or unmovable). I look over and see nothing but the expanse of empty air below and hear the rushing wind howling above me. And in there somewhere, I sense God’s presence telling me to step off that cliff. Why? I don’t know. So I question him about it. Are you sure about this God? Why can’t I stay right here, safe and sound? What if I fall God, will you catch me? Here’s a thought, God, why don’t I just back up and step away from the cliff and we can discuss this more later?
So I step back from my “cliff” (really my opportunity) and go along my merry way. But God’s voice is persistent and I find myself consistently drawn back to the edge of that very same cliff and asking the very same questions. Still I hesitate. I wonder why taking that step of faith so hard? I want to do it. I need to do it. God is telling me to do it. So why am I just standing there? Why can’t I trust God? Why can’t I take risks for God? Why can’t I throw it all out there for God? Where is my faith?
My wife says I need a good push. But God doesn’t want to shove me from behind and force me to take that giant, uncertain step of faith. He wants me to step forward of my free will. He wants me to have faith that he will take care of me, that he will be there for me, that he will help me, that he won’t let me fall—at not very far. He wants me to trust him.
So here I stand at the cliff again, peering over the edge, hearing God's voice saying, "Trust me." Will I trust God to be there for me and step off into the unknown...or will I step back into the same ol', same ol.? Say a prayer that God gives me the courage and confidence to say yes to faith and seize the opportunity he is laying before me.
April 2009
GOD IS REVEALED IN ALL THE GOOD THINGS I SEE
Several weeks ago, I attended a contemporary church service and there displayed on a pair of large screens hovering above the worship stage were the words God is revealed in all the good things I see. A simple phrase that’s so true and enlightening at once. God truly is revealed in all the good things I see.
But, I immediately asked myself, what are some of the things I see that show me the love of God, the presence of God, the existence of God? And then God began revealing the answers in question form. What about the daily miracle of birth? How some itty bitty part of Dad and some itty bitty part of Mom get together and create a wonderfully beautiful, incredibly complex baby. What about rain showering nutrients to the fields and streams? What about leaves that just seem to know when to transition from verdant green to a fiery glow in the fall? What about a neighbor who brings over a sack full of groceries after hearing you just lost your job? What about volunteers who travel to faraway places to build or repair houses? What about the amazing images sent back to Earth from the Hubble telescope? What about low and high tides? The unexpected email or phone call from your son or daughter away at school? The healing of a cancer patient? The sweet embrace of a hug? The unconditional love and companionship of a child. Isn’t God revealed in all these things?
I know we are conditioned to believe bigger is better, but if we always try to find God in super-sized events and mega messages, we might miss him. We love and worship a big God, but he sometimes reveals himself to us in the smallest of ways. In other words, when we go looking for God, we usually don’t have to look too far to see evidence of his love, grace, mercy and goodness. Even the great prophet Elijah looked for God in the mighty wind, in a trembling earthquake, in a roaring fire. But where was God? In the quiet of a gentle whisper.
God is revealed in all the good things you see everyday. It may not be in the big occurrences you expect, but in the soft whispers you don’t.
March 2009
HUT ONE, HUT TWO! FOOTBALL VS. CHRISTIAN LIVING
Now that football season is finally over (yeah Steelers!), it got me thinking about football as it relates to Christian living. I tend to think about weird things, so bear with me.
Benchwarmers are us. Many talented and gifted Christians won't get in the game of advertising God or sharing their faith. It's not that they don't have the skills or motivation. They sometimes just lack confidence and wait around for the coach to call their name. God wants us in his starting line-up, ready to suit up and leave it all out there for him.
We punt when we should go for it. Fear, apathy, pride, indifference. You're up against formidable opponents that threaten to block your way. And sometimes it works and they succeed in stopping your forward progress. It's the proverbial 4th and long and everything in your gut says punt and try again later. But if God is for you, no one and no thing can be against you and have any chance of succeeding. So get out of kick formation, step away from the ball and look downfield to advance. Don't let obstacles sideline you from doing the work of God.
We're prone to fumbles. God gives you an opportunity to do something positive in the church or community. Good, you take it and run with it. But then you drop the ball. Maybe you were juggling too much, lost your focus, or let it slip away unintentionally. But don't be too hard on yourself. Sometimes, you get a good bounce and pick it back up. No harm, no foul, right? Many times, you are the one God wants to passionately pursue the ball and take it all the way. So if you drop the ball, pick it up and keep going. On the other hand, maybe it's a good thing to fumble in certain situations because you've taken the ball as far as you can. Now, it's better for someone else with more energy, more talent and more drive to pick it up and run with it.
We get sacked...a lot. Pressure comes from all sides when you play on God's team. And when the pocket collapses and you're on your back, it's how you respond that's important. Everyone is susceptible to setbacks. Instead of just lying there feeling sorry for yourself and letting the opposition gloat and taunt you, God wants you to jump up, dust off and get ready for the next play. You just never know what God will call for you do next.
We challenge the call. You heard God's call to teach Sunday school, volunteer for a mission project or tell a coworker about the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. But, what's that? You're not so sure that's the correct call so you challenge it. Are you sure, God? Is it really me you want, God? Can't someone else do it, God? Quit procrastinating. No replay is necessary. God doesn't make mistakes. If he's tapped you to do something, the call will most certainly always go in your favor.
February 2009
GOD IS GOOD EVEN IN BAD TIMES
For the past year or so, Americans endured record high foreclosures, rising gas prices, a plunging stock market, millions of layoffs, banking collapses, and massive government spending. That's enough to send even the most optimistic of us reaching for the Tums and Excedrin. Amidst this constant avalanche of bad news, I have to stop and remind myself that God is still good no matter what crisis comes our way. That’s not to say Christians don’t frown and fret sometimes. We do. But knowing that God is good even in the worst of times gives me hope and joy when others can only find negativity and despair. Whenever I'm feeling stressed out about the state of the economy, I always try to say to myself and others, "God is good." Not only is it an expression of my trust in the love and benevolence of Jesus Christ, it also reaffirms a commitment to advertise God in any situation...good times or bad. If you have your doubts about the way things are going in these difficult times, just remember this.
God is good about listening to prayers and answering them. One day when I was praying, it hit me that I was actually talking to God. Not his personal assistant, not one of his handlers, not his publicist. I was speaking one on one with Almighty God himself! And not only was I talking to him, I had his undivided attention even though millions were praying to him at that same exact moment.
Ever been in crowded room and listening to all the different conversations going on? It's one big jumble of noise and you can't decipher any of it. That's one of the things that makes God so great. Not only can he discern my tiny voice from all the noise, he responds to it as well. Think of the celebrity you’d most want to chat up and how awestruck, nervous and tongue-tied you’d be if you could talk directly to him or her? Well, God is a gazillion times greater than some Hollywood A-lister, star athlete or tattooed, stringy-haired rocker whose poster once graced the back of your bedroom door. God is good because he cares about you and your prayers.
God is good about providing. Your 401k has dropped faster than the price of a Chris Brown concert ticket. Your house isn’t worth near as much as it used to be. You didn’t get that raise or Christmas bonus you wanted. Your job is tenuous. It’s easy to forget how good God is when you feel like your life is in the dumper. But don’t lose faith or blame God. God never promised us life would be a bed of roses, but he does provide for us in so many great ways. Instead of worrying or lamenting about things you’ve lost or don’t have, praise God for all the good things you do have—a roof over your head, food in the frig, your health, friends, freedom and a savior who loves you. Don’t take my word for it. Read Matthew 6:25-34 and see what Jesus says.